Torsion bar for a steering system assembly

ABSTRACT

A torsion bar for a steering system includes a main body. Also included is an end region having a cylindrical outer surface extending from an axial end surface. Further included is a serrated portion disposed proximate the end region and axially offset from the axial end surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to vehicle steering systemsand, more particularly, to a torsion bar for steering systems, as wellas a method of forming a torsion bar.

Power steering systems in vehicles use actuators or a worm and worm gearto provide assist and sometimes include capabilities such as variableeffort steering and torque overlay to provide a desired response in thesystems. Many actuators use a torsion bar, in combination with othermechanical and electrical components, to assist in measuring torque andto provide tactile feedback to the driver at the hand wheel.

The systems described above include a mechanical torsion bar disposed ina center cavity of an input shaft. The torsion bar is connected to anoutput shaft and the input shaft. The torsion bar imparts a torque onthe steering wheel that provides a tactile response to a driver. Inaddition, the torsion bar ensures that the valve opening for a hydraulicpower steering system is controlled as a function of the driver torque.In an electric power steering system, the deflection of the torsion baris usually sensed with an electrical device such as a torque sensor. Toensure proper function of the torque sensor and to prevent unequalstress on the torsion bar, it is desirable for the torsion bar to twistequally in the clockwise and counterclockwise direction. The twisting ofthe torsion bar is limited by mechanical stops on the input and outputshaft called stop teeth. However, the torsion bar installation processmay inherently lead to challenges with centering the torsion bar.

The manufacturing process for torsion bars is often a source of thechallenges associated with centering the torsion bar. Torsion bars maybe formed by a rolling process that creates asymmetric material at theend of the torsion bar which causes it to twist during pressing of thetorsion bar in the steering shaft. The asymmetry is caused by materialpushing out past the support of a die during formation. The geometry ofthis material cannot be controlled with current rolling process andtooling. Costly and time consuming efforts are utilized to remove thematerial from the outer diameter of the torsion bar, but this involvessignificant investment in machines, such as grinding machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a torsionbar for a steering system includes a main body. Also included is an endregion having a cylindrical outer surface extending from an axial endsurface. Further included is a serrated portion disposed proximate theend region and axially offset from the axial end surface.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention, atorsion bar for a steering system includes a main body. Also included isan end region having a plurality of serrations circumferentially spacedfrom each other, each of the serrations having a leading edge to bepress fit into a steering shaft, the leading edges orientedsymmetrically about a central axis of the main body to avoid twistingduring press fitting into the steering shaft.

In accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, amethod of manufacturing a torsion bar for a steering system is provided.The method includes supporting a torsion bar blank on a cold formingmachine with a plurality of dies at a first end region of the torsionbar blank and a second end region of the torsion bar blank. The methodalso includes rolling the torsion bar blank to form an end region havinga cylindrical outer surface extending from an axial end surface and aserrated portion disposed proximate the end region and axially offsetfrom the axial end surface.

These and other advantages and features will become more apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages ofthe invention are apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a steering system assembly;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a torsion bar, a first steering shaft anda second steering shaft of the steering system;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a process of forming a torsion barof the steering system;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rolling cold forming machine;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an end of the torsion bar; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the end of the torsion bar illustratinganother aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Figures, where the invention will be described withreference to specific embodiments, without limiting same, a steeringsystem is provided. Numerous contemplated types of vehicles may benefitfrom the embodiments disclosed herein, including an automobile, forexample.

Power steering systems may incorporate a torsion bar in hydraulic andelectric actuators. The torsion bar typically facilitates measurement ofdriver torque by sensing the deflection of the torsion bar androtational movement of the input shaft relative to the output shaft. Inaddition, the torsion bar also provides the necessary torque couplingbetween the driver and the rest of the steering system, thus providing adesired tactile “feel” to the user. The torsion bar assists with areturn to center movement of the steering system. Therefore, it isdesirable to ensure centering of the torsion bar during assembly of thesteering system. The embodiments described herein assist with thateffort.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a steering system 10 is illustrated. Thesteering system 10 includes an input shaft 12, also referred to hereinas a first shaft. The input shaft 12 is operatively coupled to asteering wheel (not shown) at an end and rotates in response to rotationof the steering wheel by a user. The input shaft 12 is operativelycoupled to an output shaft 14, also referred to herein as a secondshaft, with a torsion bar 16, as will be further described below. Uponfinal assembly, the torsion bar 16 imparts a torque on the steeringwheel that provides a tactile response to the driver.

The torsion bar 16 is inserted into a cavity 18 of the input shaft 12.The cavity 18 is substantially centrally disposed about a longitudinalaxis of the input shaft 12 and extends from an end 20 of the input shaft12, such that the end 20 is open to receive the torsion bar 16. Thetorsion bar 16 is coupled to the input shaft 12 by press fitting thetorsion bar 16 into the cavity 18. The torsion bar 16 extends out of thecavity 18 in a protruding manner subsequent to press fitting the torsionbar 16 into its coupled condition with the input shaft 12.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a section of the inputshaft 12, the output shaft 14 and the torsion bar 16 in an assembledcondition. The section of the torsion bar 16 is a main body 22 of thetorsion bar and is a substantially cylindrical section having a smooth,outer surface 24 defining a diameter of the main body 22. The section ofthe main body 22 is disposed within a cavity 26 of the output shaft 14at a region where the output shaft 14 is disposed within a bore 28 ofthe input shaft 12. As shown, the outer surface 30 of the output shaft14 and an inner surface 32 of the input shaft 12 have a substantiallycorresponding geometry comprising complementary protrusions 34 andrecesses 36. Interaction of these components facilitates proper torquedetection and steering assist feedback to a driver.

The torsion bar 16 must be centered during the press fitting operationinto the cavity 18 of the input shaft 12. Twisting during press fittingadversely affects a stop tooth balance between the above-describedcomplementary protrusions 34 and recesses 36. Precise positioning of thetorsion bar 16, and therefore the relative positioning of the inputshaft 12 and the output shaft 14, is desirable. Asymmetry of leadingedges of a serrated portion of the torsion bar 16 is often present dueto prior manufacturing processes. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, theembodiments described herein provide symmetrical leading edges of aserrated portion 38 of the torsion bar 16.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a torsion bar 100 having a serrated portion 102that extends completely to an end 104 of the torsion bar 100 is shown.In other words, leading edges of the serrations of the serrated portion102 are located at the end 104 of the torsion bar 100. Dies 106supporting and forming the torsion bar 100 have the same tooth formacross the entire width of each die. The dies 106 do not support theends of the torsion bar 100 and a portion at the end of the bar does notcompletely fill the form of the dies 106. This creates an uncontrolledmaterial flow and asymmetry at the leading edges (i.e., torsion bartip). Such asymmetry undesirably leads to twisting during press fittingof the torsion bar into the steering shaft.

Referring to FIG. 4, a cold forming machine 40 with a plurality of diesis illustrated. In particular, a first pair of dies 42 rotated by afirst spindle 44 and a second pair of dies 46 rotated by a secondspindle 48 is shown. The dies 42, 46 support the torsion bar 16 at endregions thereof. The dies 42, 46 form the serrated portion 38 at the endregions of the torsion bar. A single end region will be describedherein.

Each die of the first pair of dies 42 includes a smooth portion 50 and atoothed portion 52 of the width thereof. Each of the second pair of dies46 only includes a toothed portion 54 of the width thereof. The smoothportion 50 of the dies of the first pair of dies 42 forms asubstantially cylindrical outer surface 56 of an end region 58 of thetorsion bar 16, while the toothed portion 52 forms the serrated portion38 of the end region 58 of the torsion bar 16 (FIGS. 5 and 6).

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the end region 58 of the torsion bar 16 thatis formed by the dies 42, 46 is illustrated. The end region 58 includesthe cylindrical outer surface 56 that extends axially from an endsurface 60 of the torsion bar 16. This region is fully supported by thesmooth portion 50 of the first pair of dies 42 and the serrated portion38 of the torsion bar 16 is formed axially offset from the end surface60. The serrated portion 38 includes a plurality of serrations 62circumferentially spaced from each other. Each of the serrations 62 havea leading edge 64 that is the initial portion of the serration that ispress fit into the cavity 18 of the inner shaft 12. By axiallyoffsetting the leading edges 64 from the end surface 60, the leadingedges are controlled to form a symmetrical arrangement of leading edgesthat will not lead to twisting during press fitting. The leading edges64 have a common geometry that is substantially identical to facilitatepress fitting. In some embodiments, the leading edges have a partiallyconical geometry in the axial and/or radial direction.

Advantageously, the leading edges of the rolled serrations (i.e.,serrations 64) are controlled, leading to a symmetric arrangement thatwill not twist during press fitting. The controlled tip will allow theshaft assembly centering requirement to be met while eliminating theneed for secondary processes, such as grinding, that are costly andtime-consuming This reduces piece price and capital cost significantly.

Advantageously, the embodiments described above reduce or eliminate anyoff-centering effects inherently associated with coupling operations(e.g., press fitting) made between the torsion bar 16 and the inputshaft 12 and/or output shaft 14, thereby ensuring proper function of thetorque sensor during vehicle operation.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with onlya limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood thatthe invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, theinvention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of theinvention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention mayinclude only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A torsionbar for a steering system comprising: a main body; an end region havinga cylindrical outer surface extending from an axial end surface; and aserrated portion disposed proximate the end region and axially offsetfrom the axial end surface.
 2. The torsion bar of claim 1, wherein theserrated portion comprises a plurality of serrations circumferentiallyspaced from each other, each of the serrations having a leading edge tobe press fit into a steering shaft, the leading edges orientedsymmetrically about a central axis of the main body to avoid twistingduring press fitting into the steering shaft.
 3. The torsion bar ofclaim 2, wherein the leading edges are partially conical in an axialdirection.
 4. The torsion bar of claim 2, wherein the leading edges arepartially conical in a radial direction.
 5. The torsion bar of claim 2,wherein the leading edges have a common geometry.
 6. A torsion bar for asteering system comprising: a main body; and an end region having aplurality of serrations circumferentially spaced from each other, eachof the serrations having a leading edge to be press fit into a steeringshaft, the leading edges oriented symmetrically about a central axis ofthe main body to avoid twisting during press fitting into the steeringshaft.
 7. The torsion bar of claim 6, wherein the end region comprises acylindrical outer surface extending from an axial end surface of thetorsion bar, the leading edges of the plurality of serrations axiallyoffset from the axial end surface.
 8. The torsion bar of claim 6,wherein the leading edges are partially conical in an axial direction.9. The torsion bar of claim 6, wherein the leading edges are partiallyconical in a radial direction.
 10. The torsion bar of claim 6, whereinthe leading edges have a common geometry.
 11. A method of manufacturinga torsion bar for a steering system comprising: supporting a torsion barblank on a cold forming machine with a plurality of dies at a first endregion of the torsion bar blank and a second end region of the torsionbar blank; and rolling the torsion bar blank to form an end regionhaving a cylindrical outer surface extending from an axial end surfaceand a serrated portion disposed proximate the end region and axiallyoffset from the axial end surface.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereinthe plurality of dies comprises a first pair of dies driven by a firstspindle and a second pair of dies driven by a second spindle, whereineach of the first pair of dies includes a toothed portion to form theserrated portion and a smooth portion to form the end region, whereineach of the second pair of dies only includes a toothed portion.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein forming the serrated portion comprisesforming a plurality of leading edges oriented symmetrically about acentral axis of the torsion bar to avoid twisting during press fittingof the torsion bar into a steering shaft.
 14. The method of claim 11,wherein forming the serrated portion comprises forming a plurality ofleading edges that are partially conical.